Event ERA12CA027

Factual narrative

The pilot of the glider stated that he was returning to the airport at the conclusion of a one-and-a-half hour flight, and approached the airport at a low altitude and slow airspeed. The pilot continued the approach for landing, and struck a telephone wire on the final leg of the traffic pattern. The glider sustained substantial damage to the wing spar and tail boom. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the glider. The pilot of the glider stated that he was returning to the airport at the conclusion of a 1.5-hour flight. The pilot approached the airport at a slow airspeed and a lower-than-normal altitude due to a misinterpretation of the altimeter reading. The pilot continued the approach for landing, and the glider struck telephone wires on the final leg of the traffic pattern. The glider sustained substantial damage to the wing spar and tailboom. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the glider. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot - C
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Wire-Contributed to outcome